Jim Moran Denies His Remarks On Jews Have Any Impact

Representative James Moran of Virginia stirred up another incendiary canard-Jewish influence-by attributing America's war with Iraq to 'the strong support of the Jewish community,' though polls showed Jewish attitudes toward military action precisely matched the national sentiment."

Furthermore, The Nation magazine in which Ms. Pogrebin's piece appears is often harshly critical of Israel and supporters of Israel.

Whenever anyone complains about James Moran's remarks about Jews, he always responds by talking about the Israeli government. His interview with The Hill is no exception. Here are a relevant excerpt from this interview:

"No stranger to controversy, Moran has recently had reason to apologize — there was last year’s town hall meeting in which he remarked that the Jewish community was driving the push toward war with Iraq. The incident spiraled so badly that it left some Jewish colleagues and local rabbis coming out against his re-election to the House in 2004.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued perhaps the harshest of statements, forcing Moran to step down from his leadership post as regional whip.

'Not worried about it,' says Moran, who doesn’t apologize for supporting Israel’s labor party over the Likud Party. 'It’s not going to make a whit of difference.' But he adds: 'It may affect my friendship with them.'

Moran already has a primary challenger who is making life difficult: Andy Rosenberg, a Jew and former lobbyist with Patton Boggs, is heavily backed by Rabbi Moline, a conservative rabbi who once supported Moran. Two weeks ago, Rosenberg was out campaigning and mistakenly rapped on the front door of Moran’s rented Arlington home. The lawmaker wasn’t home, but the door was answered by Moran’s roommate — a fellow divorcé and bachelor — who kept Rosenberg tied up in foolish banter for about 20 minutes.

'He may want to update his list of potential supporters,' Moran says.

He says his words have been distorted for political purposes and insists that some of his closest confidants are Jews: 'The person who has been treasurer of my campaign for the past 25 years is Jewish. The guy I used to go running with, Danny Abrams, is Jewish. My 32-year-old daughter was married in the synagogue. She converted. My newest field guy is Eli Rosenfield. [He grins.] I think he’s Jewish.'

He cites the fact that during his stint as mayor of Alexandria he approved the first public observance of the Holocaust, in 1985. 'There is a lot of irony in this,' he says, but he adds: 'I’m never going to satisfy people who think we should be giving unequivocal support to the Likud Party.'

In addition to the lawmaker’s verbal gaffes, he also made himself an object of ridicule with a bad dye job last May. It was supposed to be blond, but it was a touch Ginger Rogers. His hair quickly returned to its 'natural' color.

Moran acknowledges that he needs to weigh his words carefully. But it’s hard for him. 'I’ve never been one to hold my tongue,' he says."

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